The top 50 TV detectives of all time | GamesRadar+ The top 50 TV detectives of all time Shares Sussing out the very best TV detectives To celebrate the launch of Crime Scene magazine we've been doing some sleuthing to figure out just who TV's best detective is by getting 50 of them into a room and systematically pointing at each of them. Who's our prime suspect? Read on to find out... Want to pick up a copy of Crime Scene? You can find it in stores tomorrow or online here . Prev Next 50. Magnum, PI (Magnum, PI) Tom Selleck narrowly missed out on playing archaeologist Indiana Jones, instead channelling his beefcake bravado into Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV - aka Magnum PI. A former military man he spends his off-hours relaxing in a former friend's swanky Hawaiian homestead, the grounds of which he shares with his verbal sparring partner, the quick-witted British veteran Higgins (John Hillerman). His trademark 'tache and gleaming red Ferrari are the more memorable associations of this sun-kissed snoop, and often take precedence over his dedication to sniffing out creeps.

Never without a Hawaiian shirt on his back, he might be rockin' the casual flip-flop stylings of a beach bum, but that's perhaps his greatest asset: Magnum's targets never see him coming (unless he's on a jetski.) Prev Next 49. Inspector Lynley (The Inspector Lynley Mysteries) On the surface Detective Thomas Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) shares more than a passing similarity to 007; each drive prestigious cars and carry out their business in an air of elitism. And that's where it ends. Lynley's heritage - he's an Earl, don't you know - imbues him with a moral fortitude that often counters the thinking of his straight-shooting scrappy partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers (Sharon Small). Part of the show's strength hails from their differences, and in particular Lynley's own personal affairs that regularly interfere and become entangled with his current cases. Over the six seasons, during which the pair traversed the lengths of the UK investigating a whole host of incidents, it's his own dalliances with the law that tested his mettle. Prev Next 48.

Inspector George Gently (Inspector George Gently) All Inspector Gently (Martin Shaw) wants is for things to be done right. His tenure as a Northumberland copper in the late '60s is defined by his old-school techniques and strong moral guidelines. Faced with the changing culture of crime, in which police procedures deal with offenders in ways he strongly admonishes, Gently seeks to stamp out the rotten element of his beat. Even if that does involve busting down doors and interrogating witnesses without the proper authorisation, he's a man determined to always do the right thing. Wiping out corruption in the department ranks high on his list of priorities. Prev Next 47. Humphrey Goodman (Death In Paradise) The beautiful environments and light-hearted, slightly old-fashioned tone of Death In Paradise have been key to its success. A formulaic whodunit illuminated by glorious sunshine, Death In Paradise is also popular because of its loveable cast of characters, a mix of French, British and Caribbean coppers who oversee the fictional island resort of Saint Marie. So when Ben Miller's Detective Inspector Richard Poole was killed at the start of series three, who knew that the public would take his replacement to their hearts so quickly?

Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, portrayed by Kris Marshall, is flown over from London to lead the small police team and almost immediately falls in love with his detective sergeant Camille Bordey. His bumbling and affable demeanour hides a sharp, deductive mind in the classic Sherlock/Poirot vein; based on the smallest of observations he can unpick dastardly murder plots - and then he usually gathers the suspects together for a drawing room (or more frequently poolside). Prev Next 46. Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad) Poor Hank. Poor, poor Hank. While many believe Walter White's brother-in-law really should have joined the dots before his eventual epiphany late in the final season of Breaking Bad, there's little debate that Hank constantly gets the shitty end of the stick, until his eventual end. At the start he's more of a nifty piece of irony, a stereotypical brute-force cop rolled out for some light-hearted or tense moments designed to underpin the fumbling, amateurish efforts of Walt and Jesse's integration into the savage world of drug dealing.

By the end, he's a character many have grown fond of despite his bullishness, and one of fiction's least lucky detectives, destined to be blindsided and crushed as the story dictates. Poor Hank. Prev Next 45. Frank Burnside (The Bill) The grizzled mainstay of The Bill's formative - and arguably best - years, Detective Inspector Burnside (Christopher Ellison) was a real rogue, parading the streets of East London with his trademark snarl and wiseguy demeanour. From the first episode his role in the show's copper ensemble is in direct opposition to the straight efforts of Sun Hill station's newbie Jim Carver, with Burnside's preference for shoving suspects' heads down toilets giving his superiors the run-around. Those no-nonsense tactics twinned with his mouthy disposition made one of the UK's first police procedurals worth tuning in to every week. Prev Next 44. Dr Mark Sloan (Diagnosis: Murder) More a Van Dyke family reunion than a TV show, some episodes of Diagnosis Murder feature multiple members of the showbiz clan with the main emphasis landing squarely on Dick Van Dyke's busybody Dr. Mark Sloan.

A medical doctor first and foremost that never stops him from lending his son, Lt. Steve Sloan (played by Van Dyke's real-life offspring Barry Van Dyke) a helping hand with active investigations - when they're not running their co-op BBQ business on the side. That frivolity presents itself at every opportunity, as Sloan is somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades, able to put his hand to any activity in order to get his man. This includes skateboarding and tap-dancing, two skills no other entrant on this list boasts. Prev Next 43. Crockett and Tubbs (Miami Vice) Camp doesn't cut it when it comes to Miami Vice's flamboyant double act. Spawned from the creative headspace of executive producer Michael Mann, Crockett (Don Johnson) and Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) are the epitome of eighties excess. Traditional police attire is traded for blinding neon t-shirts and rolled-up cuffs, an attempt to capture the youth market. Whether they were on the hunt for a drug trafficker or securing informants their antics were always accompanied by the smooth pangs of easy-listening crooners like Phil Collins, adding an aura of added cool to these Floridian undercover cops.

Prev Next 42. Albert Campion (Campion) A Margery Allingham creation only intended to appear as a supporting character in her novel The Crime at Black Dudley, Albert Campion soon took root in the author's imagination and went on to feature in a series of novels as well as a dedicated TV adaptation. It's in the BBC show that Peter Davison transformed the sophisticated aristocrat from the "silly ass" Allingham intended, modelling him into a much more rounded creation. And like all good detectives - even those who are lofty gentlemen with ideas above their station - Campion has a mismatched partner to aid in his shenanigans: Cockney sidekick Luggs (Brian Glover). It's their banter that brings out the quirkier side of Campion hinted at in the novels. Prev Next 41. David Callan (Callan) The 'self-effacing, belligerent detective' that populates a majority of crime shows owes a great debt to James Mitchell's creation, the unnerved, bitter spy David Callan. Edward Woodward embraced the cynicism of his character, delivering a performance that ushered in a new era of fictional law enforcers.

Callan's grim approach to work - that it's a bothersome 9-5 hustle as opposed to a lifelong career commitment - a refreshing take on the otherwise cheery detectives on the small screen during that era. He's more than just an edgy Mi5 agent with an arsenal of weapons and full authorisation to utilise torture for intel. He's one of the first antiheroes to display his seemingly normal side, evidenced by his method for blowing off steam. Action figure war re-enactments. Prev Next 40. Kurt Wallander (Wallander) Several actors have taken on the role of Henning Mankell's gloomy, weather-worn detective, each attempting to out-frown the other. While the Branagh version adds that BBC polish, and the Rolf Lassgard iteration brings a sense of low-key sadness, it's Krister Henriksson who feels most canon. Why? He captures some of the hope and brief flashes of humour behind one of the most relentlessly put-upon detectives in fiction, progressing the story well beyond the books and rewarding fans with more than just the constant barrage of crime that grips the southern-Swedish town of Ystad.

As with all great detective fiction, Wallander is about more than just solving cases, and the Henricksson version deals with everything from Kurt's strained relationship with his daughter, to the struggles of late-age loneliness, and even Alzheimers. Down-beat, sure, but each show offers a smart crime and a host of well-portrayed, genuinely complex characters. Prev Next 39. Taggart (Taggart) Known for his signature catchphrase -"There's bin a muhrduhr" - Scottish detective Jim Taggart first hit the Glasgow streets in 1983 with a grimace, actor Mark McManus' own background as an ex-miner and amateur boxer lending an edge of verisimilitude to Taggart's weary world view. Unconcerned with the latest crime-solving technology or sensitive cultural mores, Taggart called it like he saw it, brevity and pragmatism were the only things he needed to get the job done. And yet beneath his steely hard-bitten persona, beat the heart of a considerate, kind man. We just didn't see it that often. Prev Next 38.

Dave Starsky and Ken Hutch Hutchinson (Starsky And Hutch) Before bromancing was even a verb Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Hutch (David Soul) were at it. Popping their collars at one another and making eye contact across the central console of their cherry red Gran Torino, each decked out in their trademark chunky knits and well-worn leathers. The archetypal seventies detectives made catching crooks look cool -- and not in an ironic perm sort-of way. Part of their popularity came down to their eagerness to whip out the firearms. Neither Starsky nor Hutch shied away from the trigger during a tussle - something we take for granted in contemporary crime shows - and happily took out the bad guys with ballistic force. Prev Next 37. Sipowicz (NYPD Blue) The success of Detective Andy Sipowicz is a testament to actor Dennis Franz, who took a racist, homophobic drunkard and transformed him into a likeable - if still offensive - geezer by the end of his tenure. Franz played 26 cops prior to landing the part, a wealth of experience that no doubt contributed to his well-worn performance.

Like all detectives, Sipowicz grappled with the weight of his job while trying to fight his inherent prejudices. As if being confronted day after day by crime wasn't a big enough issue, his attempts to sort out his life were constantly ransacked by the deaths of his loved ones. Partners, wives, friends, no-one stayed in his orbit long enough for him to find peace. Prev Next 36. Shawn Spencer (Psych) Shawn Spencer was raised by a cop, and as such, a lifetime of lessons from pop prepared him for a crime-solving career. It didn't quite work out that way, with Spencer's bull-headed nature rendering him completely unable to carry out orders from a superior. So, despite possessing the keen observational skills of a true detective, he's reduced to selling himself short as a psychic moonlighting for the police. That's a large part of Spencer's charm, when he's not being a colossal goon, his determination to continue developing what his estranged father taught him. It is somewhat admirable. Well, if it weren't for the fact that he only scored the job as psychic consultant to avoid jail time. And he constantly prats about rattling off quips. Prev Next 35.

Janet Scott and Rachel Bailey (Scott & Bailey) The two most talented members of Manchester Police's Major Incident Team are best friends despite different temperaments - Janet is older and calmer by nature, a parent and a patient problem-solver; Rachel is a heavy drinker and given to tempestuous relationships, and relies a lot on her intuition. But both are hard-working and dedicated. They're played by Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones respectively. Jones co-created the show, specifically with the intention of launching a series where women are centre stage and excelling in a challenging professional environment; she's called it "the Cagney & Lacey of Manchester." The eponymous pair are frequently part of a triple act with their DCI Gill Murray, played by Amelia Bullmore who also writes many episodes. There have been 33 episodes of Scott & Bailey so far since its debut in 2011. Prev Next 34. Regan And Carter (The Sweeney) Before The Sweeney it was only our American cousins whose small screen coppers played it fast and dangerous.

Once Detective Inspector Jack Regan (John Thaw) and Detective Sergeant George Carter (Dennis Waterman) hit the streets as part of the Flying Squad, a down and dirty cop genre sprung out of the woodwork. Together the pair played as the perfect double act, their debauched and unorthodox policing methods both dangerous and amusing, Regan's willingness to sniff out a good gag in the most severe of situations a highlight of the show. Part of the duo's success - aside from the hard-edged performances from Thaw and Waterman - is borne from their shared tragedies; estrangement from children and the loss of wives proof that misery does love company. If it weren't for the chain-smoking and constant drinking, they'd probably have resigned years before their time. Prev Next 33. Olivia Benson (Law And Order: Special Victims Unit) Law And Order: Special Victims Unit has across its sixteen-year lifespan witnessed every type of criminal imaginable cuffed and sent to the slammer. The woman responsible for a large portion of those arrests is Olivia Benson, played throughout the series by Mariska Hargitay, a detective who works her way up the ladder as a brave, uncompromising officer in the Manhattan sex crimes unit.

Herself the product of rape and a harrowing upbringing, Benson's personal experiences motivate her actions as an NYPD Sergeant. She often sympathises with her victims and vows to do whatever it takes to bring them peace. Prev Next 32. Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote) Murder, She Wrote opens with a montage of amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher accompanied by the show's jaunty lightweight theme, a big hint that this investigative weekly serial won't see its detective cracking brutal crimes. Fletcher's forte had a quaint edge. Her approach to solving mysteries didn't possess the hip lingo and street chic of modern shows, but she nevertheless carried the weight of the series for twelve seasons. As an unassuming woman in her later years, her age granted her a certain immunity, rarely raising suspicion that was undoubtedly one of her greatest assets. When she's not knocking back cocktails, or donning a disguise, Fletcher is often seen tapping away at her trusty typewriter, channeling her real-life experiences into her countless novels. And sometimes she flirts outrageously with Magnum P.I. Prev Next 31.

DCS Christopher Foyle (Foyles War) A World War One veteran, Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) answers the call of duty at the onset of World War Two, only to be told by his superiors that his efforts would be best served on the homefront. That turns out to be the beachfront at Hastings, where Foyle's War takes place. A little grizzled at his circumstance he nevertheless bucks up and does as he is bid, in his own curt way. While the effects of the war play a large role in the felonies to which he tends, along with his loyal driver Sam (Honeysuckle Weeks), he refuses to slack off. There might be a war on - but that doesn't give people a free pass for corruption. Kitchen's performance is one of understated brilliance. At times he's a force to be reckoned with, a fierceness behind his eyes, and others he seems as reserved as shy schoolboy. His loyal fanbase were partly why the series was recommissioned after its early cancellation. Prev Next 30.

Brother Cadfael (Cadfael) Based on the popular series of medieval mystery novels by Ellis Peters (a pseudonym of writer Edith Pargeter), the Cadfael series of feature-length TV stories ran from 1994 until 1998 and its 13 episodes depict life in 12th century Shrewsbury. It's become one of the most popular "historical crime" settings. Brother Cadfael is a crusading knight who returns to England in his forties to join a monastery. Portrayed by Derek Jacobi, Cadfael retires into a quiet life of Benedictine worship... until murders in the local surrounding area force him to investigate. Worldly skills learned on his many travels come in handy, not just his broad understanding of human nature and his physical strength, but also a knowledge of herbs and poisons, languages, battlefield medical experience, and diplomacy. His love of scientific method and his natural sense of fair play mark him out as a man ahead of his time, although that does not always make him popular with the aristocrats and clergymen he comes into contact with. Prev Next 29.

Frank Pembleton (Homicide: Life on the Street) Before The Wire, there was Homicide: Life On The Street, similarly sprung from the mind and experience of Baltimore journalist David Simon. And although its seven seasons are notable for a large ensemble cast, it was Detective Frank Pembleton who came to be considered by many fans its defacto hero. Pembleton was inspired by real life Baltimore Police Department Detective Harry Edgerton. In the series, he's a passionate, uncompromising, occasionally preachy lawman considered a legend on the force for his tenacious ability to crack suspects in the interview "box". Usually partnered with less experienced detective Tim Bayliss, Pembleton is highly committed and drives himself and his colleagues hard, to the point where he has a stroke in season four. Pembleton is played by Andre Braugher who received multiple award nominations for the role, winning an Emmy for it in 1998. Prev Next 28. Temperance Bones Brennan and Seeley Booth (Bones) She's a straight-thinking, forensic archaeologist. He's a kooky FBI man.

Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) are like chalk and cheese, an odd couple thrown together by their individual skill sets to solve crimes for the Bureau. Brennan's methodical approach to all of life's problems, whether it be the skeletal remains on her table or a romantic endeavour, stems from her studious nature and trust of empirical evidence. Booth? He's more a shoot-from-the-hip kinda guy. A self-confessed nerd he constantly points out the wackiness of his wardrobe - belt buckles and socks - which usually receives a 'what's the point?' response from Brennan. Over the ten seasons Bones has aired, the pair have gone through thick and thin; illness, hostage situations, imprisonment, shoot-outs, death... you name it, Bones and Booth have survived it, their relationship strengthened. The pair finally revealed their true feelings and started a family. Opposites attract. Prev Next 27. Jim Bergerac (Bergerac) Bergerac centres around the worklife of recovering alcoholic Jim Bergerac (John Nettles), a wayward Jersey detective.

Posted to the island after nearly losing his job - he broke his leg pursuing a suspect under the influence - he starts afresh while ruminating on his divorce. The show threw up week after week of unusual - if often affluent - mysteries to crack, plenty of which revolved around the tax-exempt millionaires making the idyllic isle their home. None of that mattered to old Berge, who gave all of his suspects plenty of grief, regardless of whether they had a Rolls on the drive. Prev Next 26. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars) She seems like a perky California blonde, with the perfect sun-kissed look, yet underneath Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) beats the heart of a hard-boiled detective. She's cynical, quick-witted and won't think twice about knocking people off their pedestals. And, like all crime fighters, she too has skeletons in her closet. A horrific incident that changed her life forever put Veronica in league with her dad - Keith Mars, the private eye behind Mars Investigations. Driven to uncover the truth behind her best friend's murder, Veronica often stretches herself thin.

Schoolwork tends to come second to crushing some high school hacker -- but when you've got street smarts, what else does a PI really need? Prev Next 25. Tom Barnaby (midsomer Murders Old-fashioned (but not as old as Marple) and good-humoured (though not as humorous as Poirot), DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) is that rarest of detectives honest and disarmingly normal. Unlike many of his gritty TV contemporaries, Barnaby is the opposite of a tortured soul, solving crimes in the English countryside without even a whiff of malaise. Over 14 years, he cracked 185 murder cases, plus 10 suicides and 12 accidental deaths, all with the geniality of an English gent whos looking forward to a cup of tea at the end of the day. Barnaby has always been a very down-the-line career cop, sums up Nettles. Prev Next 24. Raylan Givens (Justified) Whether chewing out vitriol or simmering beneath his Stetson, Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) is everything youd expect of a one-time redneck.

And just because hes now a small-town US Marshal doesnt mean hes going to mend his ways he has no problem loving and leaving the ladies, or shooting his mouth off like a loaded gun and, over six seasons, he was at the centre of some pretty impressive scraps, whether tying people up to trees (poor Boyd) or playing Russian roulette (with Wynn Duffy). [Its] kind of fun watching how close he can get to that line without crossing it, says Olyphant. Prev Next 23. Jack Frost (A Touch of Frost) First appearing in radio plays and novels by author R.D. Wingfield, Detective Inspector William Frost nicknamed Jack by his colleagues at Denton CID was brought to life on screen by David Jason for the first time in 1992. Frost is an experienced copper, a smart problem solver and big-hearted good guy; but hes disorganised, irreverent, unambitious and often selfish. Although hes decorated for bravery, his stickler boss hates his lack of professionalism. Jasons interpretation is more family-friend than Wingfields original who swore and chain-smoked, but after 42 episodes the role is etched on TV crime history. Prev Next 22.

Dalziel and Pascoe (Dalziel & Pascoe) Dalziel is a brash, avuncular but vulgar salt-of-the-earth type, while his younger partner Pascoe is a university-educated fast-tracker, and together this little and large pair solve murders in Yorkshire. They first appeared in 1970 in Reginald Hills A Clubbable Woman. ITV attempted to adapt the series of novels with comedians Gareth Hale and Norman Pace in the title roles back in 1993, but the author disliked it. The BBCs subsequent version, with Warren Clarke as DSI Andy Dalziel and Colin Buchanan as DI Peter Pascoe, was far more popular with creator and audience alike, running for 46 episodes. Theyre supported by an ensemble team of detectives most notably Detective Sergeant Edgar Wieldy Wield (played by Christopher Fairbank in the ITV pilot and David Royle in the BBC series). In Hills fiction, Dalziel and Pascoe carried on policing into the future: the novella One Small Step sees them solving a murder on the moon. Prev Next 21.

Cagney and Lacey (Cagney & Lacey) Originally created as the first female buddy movie, Cagney & Lacey debuted (as a TV movie) in 1981 but it wasnt until the second series of the spin-off that the third-times-a-charm alchemic re-casting of Sharon Gless as Christine Cagney opposite Tyne Daly as Mary-Beth Lacey slowly made the show a hit (it was cancelled and revived twice before getting a suitable timeslot). The hard-drinking, loft-dwelling singleton and her homely wife-and-mother partner werent sitting prettily in the background and fainting at crime scenes, they were going undercover, on stakeouts and into dangerous areas of the pre-Giuliani Manhattan, pursuing talking-point crime from rapes, murders, drugs and prostitution to police corruption and mental health issues. Gless and Daly won the Lead Actress Emmy for an unsurpassed six consecutive years and their fab feminist legacy can be seen today in Scott & Bailey, conceived as the Cagney & Lacey of Manchester. Prev Next 20.

Saga Norn (The Bridge) Its unfair to think of homicide detective Norn as Swedens answer to Sarah Lund, despite both displaying obsessive detachment and questionable social skills. In many respects, Saga is more hip she wears leather trousers, drives a vintage Porsche and enjoys casual sex but in others she seems further along the autistic spectrum, lacking any sense of irony and possessing a no-boundaries attitude to conversation. Shes played by Sofia Helin in two series (soon to be three) of The Bridge alongside Kim Bodnia as laid-back detective Martin Rohde; their odd-couple pairing gives this international drama its energy. Prev Next 19. Adrian Monk (Monk) Ex-detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) might live in San Francisco but hes far from a turned-on drop-out. Hes hyper attuned to anything out of place, the crippling OCD that saw him invalided out of the SFPD after the murder of his beloved wife proving to be the perfect detection tool.

Sherlock-inspired producer Andy Breckman came up with a shrink as a Watsonic voice of reason and bulldog-like Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) as a Lestrade, but its his assistants who made Monk able to function, the long-suffering Sharona (Bitty Schram) and Natalie (Traylor Howard) ever ready with wipes and not just at crime scenes. Prev Next 18. DCI Jhon Luther (Luther) If The Hulk was a police officer, hed be DCI John Luther (Idris Elba). Well-read, ridiculously stylish and in possession of a piercing intellect, hes also built like a boxer and has the temper to match. With his troubled home life and tendency to fly into rages, Luthers the definition of misunderstood particularly because he often goes to extreme lengths to ensure justice is served as he tackles dangerous crims for Londons Serious Crime Unit. When he does get his hands on them, he doesnt necessarily follow procedure, Elba admits of the character. He will be as vindictive as the criminal. Prev Next 17.

Jan Tennison (Prime Suspect) Unsmiling and forthright, DCI Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) wasnt just a force to be reckoned with in the field of criminal investigation, she also paved the way for women in TV, proving that strong women are just as fascinating as strong men. Not that it was all about strength. I always loved the flaws in Jane Tennison, the disasters more than the triumphs, Mirren says of her character, who over seven series and 15 years struggled with alcoholism, tackled hard-hitting cases and even fought against the force itself. Her tenacity in the face of adversity inspired a legion of fans. Prev Next 16. Gene Hunt (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) was a walking quote machine. As the 70s cop viewed through the eyes of thrown-back-in-time PC Sam Tyler, hes a fabulously entertaining caricature of a typical TV policeman from that decade, The Sweeneys DCI Regan comic-stripped up.

Whether its responding to Sam pondering whether a murder might be a hate crime (What, as opposed to one of those I really really like you sort of murders?) or pontificating on the veracity of a witness (Shes as fake as a trannys fanny) he gave us a refreshing riposte to political correctness we could all cheer. Prev Next 15. Sarah Lund (The Killing) Sarah Lund (Sofie Grbl) was supposed to be leaving Copenhagen for a new life in Sweden. Then Nanna Birk Larsen got murdered and Lund just couldnt leave the investigation alone, plunging her into a downward spiral that across three seasons would not only wreck her life but those of pretty much everyone caught in her blast radius. While her detective skills are decent and hunches often right, Lunds obsessive nature, refusal to let things go and tendency to run around like a bull in a woollen knitwear shop mean shes almost pathologically opposed to happy endings as her final appearance proved. Prev Next 14.

Jimmy McNulty (The Wire) Hailed by many as the Greatest TV Show Ever Made, The Wire delves into every corner of Baltimore (education, politics, print journalism, etc.) but the heart of the show throughout its five seasons is the police and the illegal drug trade theyre attempting to take down. McNulty, played by English thesp Dominic West, is of Irish descent, talented, dedicated and a royal pain in the ass hes arrogant, belligerent in the face of authority, drinks like a fish and is pathologically unable to keep his pecker in his pants. And yet were rooting for him on every step of his bumpy journey. Why? Because he wants to be better, dammit. Well, that and because hes one charming sonofabitch. The Wire is, of course, first and foremost an ensemble drama forever widening its scope, there are more than 100 principal characters by Season 5 but McNulty is the main man. Prev Next 13.

Gil Grissom (CSI) William Petersen gave indelible performances in William Friedkins crime thriller To Live And Die In LA and as troubled FBI profiler Will Graham in Michael Manns Manhunter, so its hardly surprising that his head of the Nevada forensics team, Gil Grissom, is such a treat. Appearing in 190 episodes (Laurence Fishburne took over as CSI chief when Petersen exited after season 9), Grissom, a brilliant scientist whose particular area of expertise is entomology, is better with bugs than people. But his team are fiercely loyal, knowing hell always have their backs and his dedication to the job is second to none. Grissom can be viewed as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes and even has a Moriarty-style nemesis, serial-killer Paul Millander, and a woman, Lady Heather, who is his very own Irene Adler. A private man, he nonetheless embarks on a tentative romance with employee Sarah Sidle (Jorja Fox), which is assuredly handled. Prev Next 12.

Miss Marple (Miss Marple/Agatha Christie's Marple) First appearing on US TV (played by the British Gracie Fields) in 1956, this shrewd spinster who solves murders in an understated, genteel way was played by Joan Hickson for the BBC from 1984-1992, in adaptations of all 12 of Agatha Christies Miss Marple novels. Frail and always underestimated by friends and criminals alike, shes as sharp as her ever-present knitting needles, good at gaining confidences, and uncompromising in her determination to uncover murderers. Her policeman nephew, Inspector Craddock, is much fonder of his Aunt Jane than the frequently exasperated local police. Set in the chocolate box village of St Mary Mead, the series was mostly filmed in Nether Wallop, Hampshire, and Donald Pleasance and Joan Sims were among the stars who appeared. Geraldine McEwan and then Julia McKenzie appeared as Miss Marple in ITVs Agatha Christies Marple, which ran 2004-2013; famous guest stars include such actors as Joanna Lumley, James Fox and Antony Sher. Prev Next 11.

Jonathan Creek (Jonathan Creek) The ingenious ingnieur, Jonathan Creek (Alan Davies) is but the man behind the magician when first we meet David Renwicks amateur detective, playing second-fiddle to womanising illusionist Adam Klaus (Stuart Milligan). Devised to be all about the how? rather than biff-bang-pow, Creek unpicks impossible locked-room murders from the tiniest of details (few of which viewers could ever compute) by using his working knowledge of magic tricks. A rubber band at a crime scene? The victim was obviously killed by someone firing a gun using their feet. A random vagrants fingernail found in a judges tidy bedroom? Clearly an inside job... For real-world puzzlers, however, Creeks reliant on a string of capable, cocky sidekicks Maddy (Caroline Quentin), Carla (Julia Sawalha), Joey (Sheridan Smith), then wife Polly (Sarah Alexander). Recent series have, in some ways, been the most head-scratching of all for an audience incapable of fathoming why hes now working in advertising. This is one answer Creek and Renwick seem to be keeping to themselves. Prev Next 10.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs (NCIS) The best marksman, calm in a confrontation, professional, firm but fair, Leroy Jethro Gibbs is the backbone of the NCIS team a born leader and the guy you wish was your boss. Mark Harmon has embodied the Special Agent and ex-U.S Marine Corps Scout Sniper in the series charting criminal undercurrents involving the US Navy for 12 season (theres about to be a 13th). Originally a spin-off of legal drama JAG it has now itself inspired franchises NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans. Gibbs is a powerhouse but Harman likes his humanity: I was attracted by [his] flaws. He has lousy taste in women. Prev Next 9. Richard Castle (Castle) Apparently, in an actual homicide, they dont know who did it until after the guy gets caught, deadpans Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) in an early episode of Castle and he should know. A bestselling crime author, hes used to coming up with crimes he can solve.

Its not quite as easy in the real world, though, when he teams up with detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) to bring down baddies in New York City. Typical that the shows named after him Castles self-important, sleazy and quick to crack a joke at the wrong moment, but thats exactly why we love him. Prev Next 8. Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks) FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is partial to a slice of cherry pie and coffee black as midnight on a moonless night. Hes also a damn fine detective. When schoolgirl Laura Palmer is murdered, Coop is dispatched to Twin Peaks to investigate. Anyone else would have been in over their head dealing with body-hopping supernatural killers, but Coop takes it in his stride. Hes vigilant, moral and a people person, building vital relationships with the townsfolk. Hes a crucial reason why Twin Peaks continues to be a phenomenon, and in 2017 hell be back for the shows third season. Prev Next 7.

Jim Rockford (The Rockford files) Actor James Garner and producer Roy Huggins had huge success with their wild west series Maverick, so in 1974 they teamed up with TV legend Stephen J. Cannell (The A-Team, 21 Jump Street) to create a modern city yarn in the same mould. Garner plays ex-con Rockford, a fast-talking Malibu private investigator specialising in missing persons cases gone cold, living out of a caravan and constantly bugging his contacts in the LAPD. Garner performs most of his own stunts, including a reverse handbrake J turn in his gold Pontiac Firebird Esprit. There were 122 episodes in total plus eight TV movies. Prev Next 5. Harry Bosch (Bosch) He has a really good sense of humour, says Titus Welliver of his LA detective Harry Bosch, and hed have to, considering we meet Bosch on trial for shooting dead a suspected serial killer. Created by author Michael Connelly, but aged down for the TV series, Bosch is divorced and attempting to raise his teenage daughter when hes put on trial.

Meanwhile, he attempts to solve a case involving the discovery of a body in the woods, and his reaction (retreating to a bathroom to splash water on his face) tells us he may be a detective, but hes also rocked by the things he sees. Prev Next 4. Endeavour Morse (Inspector Morse) Theres nothing more satisfying than seeing a murderous Oxford don realise theyve been outwitted by the irascible Morse (the creation of novelist Colin Dexter, who makes cameo appearances in almost all episodes of the ITV series). They dont often realise he too, is Oxford-educated, though he left for the Army before gaining his degree. Running from 1987-2000, Inspector Morse is 33 episodes of a grumpy, squeamish, classical music-, cryptic crossword- and real ale-loving police inspector who drives an aging Jaguar and wont reveal his first name until the penultimate episode. Played by John Thaw, hes assisted by Geordie sidekick Sergeant Robbie Lewis (Kevin Whately). In 2012-2014, nine episodes of a prequel called Endeavour portray Morse (Shaun Evans) as a young DC in the 60s.

Hes almost too clever, arousing suspicion among superiors and peers with his brains-over-action approach, though he ultimately earns respect from fellow officers. Prev Next 3. Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie's Poirot) Although Ian Holm and Alfred Molina have also appeared as Agatha Christies little Belgian detective, David Suchet is the definitive TV Poirot, having made 70 episodes and gained the approval of Christies family. A comical, short figure, fussy about his appearance and his neat moustache, Poirot is an ex-Belgian policeman and WWI refugee. He loves herbal tea and exercises his little grey cells as a private detective, often working out of his fashionable London apartment. Christie confessed to deliberately writing Poirot in the Sherlock Holmes tradition although in later stories he would become less interested in logical clues and more concerned with the psychology of a case. Between 1989 and 2013, ITV aired adaptations of all the major Christie stories in which Poirot appeared, moving through light mysteries and Art Deco mansions into the darker tales of Poirots old age. Anthony Horowitz and Mark Gatiss have both written for the series.

Prev Next 2. Sherlock Holmes (multiple adaptations) Nearly 130 years have passed since the legendary detective was first introduced to the public, and his popularity seems stronger than ever. Holmes is the most famous private investigator in the world and the archetypal intellectual sleuth, and his adventures with sidekick Watson beat a path followed by many other fictional crime solvers. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle conjured up the pair in A Study In Scarlet (first printed in Beetons Christmas Annual in 1887) but other writers working in other media have ensured their popularity throughout the 20th century and to this day. The London consulting detective, with his aquiline nose and penetrating eyes, is renowned for his abilities of observation and deductive reasoning, which enable him to comprehend the specifics of a situation from the smallest of clues. Alas his self-confidence leads to arrogance, he is restless when not intellectually stimulated and he is given to drug abuse. Even people who have never browsed a Conan Doyle book can identify Sherlock Holmes from countless illustrations and adaptations he is a more famous Victorian than Queen Victoria, and the museum bearing his name on Londons Baker Street has a perpetual queue outside. Prev Next 1. Lt.

Columbo (Columbo) Bumbling, unassuming, the man in the mac, Columbo is the most underestimated detective on the beat, but that doesn't stop him from being a genius powerhouse who ALWAYS get his man. Created by William Link and Richard Levinson and first broadcast in the 1970s, Columbo was unusual in that the whole crime is played out in front the audience before the good Lieutenant even appears on the scene, allowing us to watch as the murderer unravels at the hand of the politely relentless detective constantly asking just one more thing. The man we see as Lieutenant Columbo isnt even real, writes Sherlock creator Steven Moffat in an article penned exclusively for Crime Scene magazine. Hes a trap. A conscious construct ofhomely anecdotes, loveable vagueness, and tales of a never-seen wife all camouflage for a genius predator, circling the guilty, his teeth at their throat before they even know hes there. Prev

Question: The title character of which British TV detective series has not put in an appearance for nearly 14 years?
Answer: Taggart